An intriguing article about the fire that broke out last week at a tire recycling plant in Hoopeston, Illinois: WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) – Firefighters working to contain flames at an Hoopeston, Illinois, tire recycling facility on Wednesday received some unexpected support from Purdue University’s fire department and its unusual ally. The call for help came early Wednesday morning when the Champaign Fire Department reached out to Purdue Fire Chief Kevin Ply, requesting assistance at J&R Used Tire Service in Hoopeston. What followed was far from ordinary. Instead of sending a team of firefighters, Purdue brought in their experimental firefighting robot, which quickly proved its worth on the scene. “Some of the firefighters, both volunteer and career, were a bit unsure at first,†Ply said. “But once we deployed it inside the building and they saw how effective it was, they were really impressed.†Ply, along with two other Purdue firefighters, transported their prototype robot to the site. The device was used in an area where fire had already caused partial structural damage — a location too dangerous for human firefighters to enter. “We were able to get the robot into a high-risk zone where we couldn’t send people,†Ply explained. “It made a real difference in controlling the fire.†Eric Dietz, a professor at Purdue’s College of Technology, is assisting a Korean company in developing the robot. He described the real-world test as a major success. “This is exactly what researchers hope for,†Dietz said. “Getting real users to test the technology under actual conditions is invaluable. We saw areas that need improvement, and that’s exactly what we needed to know.†The robot ran for nearly four hours before the battery died. However, there appears to be a software issue causing the hose to activate unexpectedly. “We’ll provide that feedback to the developers so the final version can be even better,†Ply added. Dietz also highlighted the potential for economic growth. “The Koreans weren’t just interested in research — they wanted to explore opportunities for local partnerships and business development,†he said. Despite the challenges, both Ply and Dietz are optimistic about the future of the robot. They’re currently working on solutions for faster battery charging and easier field battery replacement. This incident not only showcased the value of innovation in emergency response but also opened up new possibilities for collaboration between academia and industry. Black pe Zipper Bags,pe Black Zipper Bags,Black Plastic Zip Lock Bag Cangzhou Yunfeng Packaging Products Co., Ltd. , https://www.yunfengpackaging.com